Search puzzle with varied symbol orientations

ABSTRACT

An improved search puzzle and an improved method for making a search puzzle are disclosed, in which letters or other symbols in a search field are oriented at a plurality of angles, thereby increasing the challenge of finding search strings embedded therein. In preferred embodiments, the symbols are arranged in an array that can be rectangular or square. The puzzle can include an answer bank that lists the hidden search strings or gives indications thereof. In some embodiments, each symbol is oriented at an angle that is a multiple of 45 or 90 degrees. In other embodiments, the symbols are either upright or inverted. The orientations of the symbols in the search strings can be irrelevant, or necessary to the search. The search strings can be words, and/or can include rebus symbol strings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to puzzle games, and more particularly to searchpuzzles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Search puzzles are well known and are popular among people of all ages,due to the enjoyment of searching through an arrangement of symbols andrecognizing patterns. Children as well as adults can participate inrecreational puzzle games, thereby challenging their searching skills.Search puzzles generally include a set of pre-defined symbol stringsembedded within a search field, the search field being a set of symbolsorganized in a pattern, such as a grid. The symbols may be letters,numbers, and/or other characters, for example.

In current search puzzles, all the symbols in a search field areoriented in the same direction, and they are arranged together ontwo-dimensional or three-dimensional surfaces. While these word searchpuzzles provide a certain level of entertainment, they can becometiresome or predictable. After having performed a number of searchpuzzles over time, the challenge may be reduced, and a user may not gainas much enjoyment or mental stimulation as he or she once did.Therefore, the sense of challenge and the recreational value of suchsearch puzzles may decline, and the search puzzles may become lessappealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved search puzzle is claimed for enhancing the recreationalvalue of puzzle games. The claimed search puzzle includes symbols thatare oriented in different directions, so as to increase the challenge ofperforming a search within the search puzzle. The symbols are arrangedwithin a search field, the search field being the set of symbols throughwhich a user of the search puzzle searches. Preferably, the symbols inthe search field are oriented at 90 degree angles relative to eachother. The search puzzle can also include an answer bank, which displaysthe symbol strings that the user is meant to find within the searchfield, or at least presents indications of the strings to be found.

One general aspect of the present invention is a search puzzle thatincludes a search field containing a plurality of symbols, each symbolbeing oriented at one of a plurality of angles, at least some of theplurality of symbols being located so as to form a plurality of findablesymbol strings embedded within the search field.

In preferred embodiments, the symbols contained in the search field arearranged as a two-dimensional array. In some of these embodiments thetwo-dimensional array a rectangular array or a square array.

In some preferred embodiments the plurality of findable symbol stringsembedded within the search field includes at least one rebus symbolstring. Other preferred embodiments further include an answer bank thatpresents and/or gives indications of findable symbol strings that areembedded within the search field. In some of these embodiments theanswer bank at least indicates an orientation for each symbol in eachfindable symbol string to be found in the search field.

In various preferred embodiments at least some of the symbols containedin the search field are letters. And in certain preferred embodiments atleast some of the findable symbol strings embedded within the searchfield are words.

In some preferred embodiments the symbols contained in the search fieldare oriented at angles that are multiples of 90 degrees. In otherpreferred embodiments the symbols contained in the search field areoriented at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees. And in still otherpreferred embodiments, for each symbol contained in the search field,the orientation of the symbol is one of right-side-up and upside-down.

Another general aspect of the present invention is a method forpreparing a search puzzle. The method includes selecting a plurality offindable symbol strings to be found within a search field, placing aplurality of symbols within the search field, so as to form theplurality of findable symbol strings, orienting each of the plurality ofsymbols at one of a plurality of angles, and populating unoccupiedportions of the search field with additional symbols, each of theadditional symbols being oriented at one of the plurality of angles.

In preferred embodiments, the symbols contained in the search field arearranged as a two-dimensional array. In some of these embodiments thetwo-dimensional array is a rectangular array or a square array.

In some preferred embodiments the plurality of findable symbol stringsembedded within the search field includes at least one rebus symbolstring. Other preferred embodiments further include an answer bank thatpresents and/or gives indications of findable symbol strings that areembedded within the search field. And in some of these embodiments theanswer bank at least indicates an orientation for each symbol in eachfindable symbol string to be found in the search field.

In certain embodiments at least some of the symbols contained in thesearch field are letters. And in various embodiments at least some ofthe findable symbol strings embedded within the search field are words.And in other preferred embodiments the symbols contained in the searchfield are oriented at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detaileddescription, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention,wherein a search field contains pictorial symbols oriented relative toeach other at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention,wherein a search field contains letters oriented relative to each otherat angles that are multiples of 90 degrees;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram detailing the method of use of the embodimentof FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram detailing the method of use of an embodimentsimilar to the embodiment of FIG. 2, but in which the orientations ofthe letters must be matched to orientations presented in the word bank;and

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram detailing an embodiment of the method ofcreating a search puzzle of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention,wherein a search puzzle contains pictorial symbols oriented relative toeach other at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees. In FIG. 1, asearch field 100 of a search puzzle is shown. The search field 100 ismade up of sixteen pictorial symbols 102 organized in a square array,including four rows and four columns. The pictorial symbols are orientedrelative to each other at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees. Arebus symbol string 104 is embedded within the search field. The objectof the search puzzle is to find this symbol string 104. An answer bank106 is provided below the search field 100, comprising a phrase whichindicates the content of the hidden rebus symbol string 104.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention,wherein a search puzzle contains letters oriented relative to each otherat angles that are multiples of 90 degrees. In FIG. 2, a search field200 of a search puzzle is shown. The search field 200 is made up of fourhundred letters 202 organized in a square grid, including twenty rowsand twenty columns. The letters 202 are oriented relative to each otherat angles that are multiples of 90 degrees. An answer bank 204 isprovided below the search field, which lists the hidden words 206embedded in the search field 200. The object of the search puzzle 200 isto find these words 206. In FIG. 2, a user has located and circled thefirst word listed in the answer bank 204.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram detailing the method of use of the preferredembodiment of FIG. 2. First, a user takes note of the words that arelisted in the word bank of the search puzzle 300. Next, the user scansthe search field, looking for the words listed in the word bank 302. Asthe user searches the search field, the user disregards the varyingorientation of the letters, 304, and looks for the proper ordering ofthe letters to form the words listed in the word bank 306. As the userfinds the words embedded in the search field, the user circles the words308.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram detailing the method of use of a preferredembodiment similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2, except that words mustbe found in the search field in specific orientations given in the wordbank. When using this embodiment, the user begins 400 by taking note ofboth the words and the letter orientations give in the word bank. Whilescanning the search field 402 in search of the hidden words, the usertakes note 404 of the varying orientations of the letters and looks forthe proper ordering and orientations of the letters 406 so as to matchthe words and letter orientations provided in the search bank. The userthen circles the words 408 as they are found.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram detailing a preferred embodiment of the methodfor preparing search puzzles of the present invention. The methodembodiment of FIG. 5 begins with the selecting a list of words 500 to befound in the search. The words are then embedded 502 in the search fieldin varying letter arrangements, and the remainder of the search field isfilled 504 with randomly selected letters. The orientations of all ofthe letters in the search field are then randomly varied 506. Finally, alist of the words to be found is displayed as a word bank 508. In someembodiments, the orientations of the characters that make up the wordspresented in the word bank match the orientations of the words embeddedin the search field.

Other modifications and implementations will occur to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and the scope of the inventionas claimed. Accordingly, the above description is not intended to limitthe invention except as indicated in the following claims.

1. A search puzzle, comprising: a search field disposed on a flat,two-dimensional surface, the search field containing a plurality ofsymbols, each symbol being independently orientable, the plurality ofsymbols including at least two symbols oriented differently with respectto each other; and at least some of the plurality of symbols beinglocated so as to form a plurality of findable symbol strings embeddedwithin the search field.
 2. The search puzzle of claim 1, wherein thesymbols contained in the search field are arranged as a two-dimensionalarray.
 3. The search puzzle of claim 2, wherein the two-dimensionalarray is one, of: a rectangular array; and a square array.
 4. The searchpuzzle of claim 1, wherein the plurality of findable symbol stringsembedded within the search field includes at least one rebus symbolstring.
 5. The search puzzle of claim 1, further comprising an answerbank, the answer bank at least one of presenting, and giving indicationsof, findable symbol strings that are embedded within the search field.6. The search puzzle of claim 5, wherein the answer bank at leastindicates an orientation for each symbol in each findable symbol stringto be found in the search field.
 7. The search puzzle of claim 1,wherein at least some of the symbols contained in the search field areletters.
 8. The search puzzle of claim 1, wherein at least some of thefindable symbol, strings embedded within the search field are words. 9.The search puzzle of claim 1, wherein the symbols contained in, thesearch field are oriented with respect to each other at angles that aremultiples of 90 degrees.
 10. The search puzzle of claim 1, wherein thesymbols contained in the search field are oriented with respect to eachother at angles that are multiples of 45 degrees.
 11. The search puzzleof claim 1, wherein the symbols contained in the search field areoriented with respect to each other at angles that are multiples of 180degrees.
 12. A method for making a search puzzle, the method comprising:selecting a plurality of findable symbol strings to be found within asearch field; placing a plurality of symbols within the search field, soas to form the plurality of findable symbol strings; orienting each ofthe plurality of symbols at one of a plurality of angles, wherein atleast two symbols are oriented differently with respect to each other;and populating unoccupied portions of the search field with additionalsymbols, each of the additional symbols being oriented at one of theplurality of angles.
 13. The method, of claim 12, wherein the symbolscontained, in the search field are arranged as a two-dimensional array.14. The method of claim 13, wherein the two-dimensional array is one of:a rectangular array; and a square array.
 15. The method of claim 12,wherein the plurality of findable symbol strings embedded within thesearch field includes at least one rebus symbol string.
 16. The methodof claim 12, further comprising an answer bank, the answer bank at leastone of presenting, and giving indications of findable symbol stringsthat are embedded within the search field.
 17. The method of claim 16,wherein the answer bank at least indicates an orientation for eachsymbol in each findable symbol string to be found in the search field.18. The method of claim 12, wherein at least some of the symbolscontained in the search field are letters.
 19. The method of claim 12,wherein at least some of the findable symbol strings embedded within thesearch field are words.
 20. The method of claim 12, wherein the symbolscontained in the search field are oriented at angles that are multiplesof 45 degrees.